The number of brush fires in Santa Clarita dropped by 28 percent in 2022, however, firefighters still responded to almost the same amount of overall fire calls as in 2021. 

In 2022, firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) responded to 373 confirmed fires in the Santa Clarita Valley, compared to 376 in 2021, according to data released by the Fire Department. 

Although these numbers are nearly identical, the types of fires that make up this total varied wildly between 2021 and 2022. 

Officials with the LACoFD have 10 categories that fires fall under. In broad strokes, these can be broken down into brush or wildfires, structure fires, vehicle fires, trash fires, fires in areas where fire usually should be (chimney, cooking), and miscellaneous fires. 

So how did Santa Clarita rank in all the categories? 

Structure Fires; Homes and Businesses 

In 2022 firefighters extinguished a total of 43 confirmed structure fires in our Santa Clarita Valley compared to 35 in 2021. 

Some of the notable Santa Clarita structure fires in 2022 included the Santa Clarita Valley Athletic Center Fire and a fire at the Stevenson Ranch Pick-Up-Stix.

Other Structure Fires; Sheds, Outbuildings  

In 2022 the number of outbuildings fires decreased, with three fires, compared to five in 2021. 

Brush Fires 

Brush fires are no stranger to us in Santa Clarita, however, they decreased in 2022 compared to 2021. 

In 2022, 58 brush fires were contained in Santa Clarita, compared to 81 in 2021. 

The most significant fire that impacted us in the Santa Clarita Valley in 2022 was the Route Fire in Castaic which burned over 5,200 acres and caused major damage to the 5 Freeway. 

Another notable brush fire in the SCV included the Railroad Fire which burned 20 acres and evacuated all businesses on the south side of Soledad Canyon Road between Commuter Way and Bouquet Canyon Road.

The cause of both fires has not been released as of Feb. 1.

Vehicle Fires; Including Personal Vehicles 

In 2022, 90 car fires were doused compared to 93 in 2021.

Truck Fires; Including Big Rigs and RVs 

With three notable passes in Santa Clarita, it is not uncommon for big rigs and RVs to catch fire, whether it is a motor or brake fire. 

In 2022, 19 large vehicles caught fire compared to 15 in 2021. 

Trash Truck Fires 

In 2022 trash truck fires almost doubled, with 84 of them going up in flames, compared to 46 in 2021. 

In most trash truck fires, firefighters will have the garbage dumped onto the ground to protect the vehicle from catching fire, and to get better access to the blaze.

Cooking Fires 

Another type fire that saw a significant drop were cooking fires. 

In 2022, 18 cooking fires were smothered, compared to 37 in 2021. 

Chimney Fires        

In 2022, five reported chimney fires were knocked down compared to six in 2021. 

Boat Fires 

In 2022, two boat fires were doused compared to zero in 2021. 

Miscellaneous Fires; Poles, Fences or Equipment 

In 2022, there were 51 reported fires in this category compared to 58 in 2021. 

The data released by the LACoFD did not clarify how many brush fires were sparked by a vehicle or truck blaze. 

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.